Chaosunfolds across the grainy thermal feeds.Thecrackle of automatic fire rips through my headset, piercing my eardrums.Myshoulders jerk with every pop, knuckles hovering over the keys.Ican’t shoot a gun, butIcan open doors.
"Tracker, the electronic lock on the east wing is cycling,"Iannounce, hammering the keys. "I'moverriding the keypad now.Giveme three seconds."
"Idon't have three seconds,Kaila,"Danielgrunts.Thewet thud of a body hitting the floor bleeds into the jagged tear of his breathing.
"Done,"Ishout as the bypass code accepts. "Dooris open.Go, go, go!"
Theheavy steel door swings inward on the screen asDanielkicks the barricade.Histhermal signature disappears into the dark of the facility's lower levels.Downthere, the readings turn icy cold.TheCostasuse those depths to hide whatever they never want found.
"Kevin,"Iwhisper, my fingers closing around the small obsidian stone in my pocket.Heatradiates from the polished rock against my palm.Danielpromised meGunnarsnever lose what's theirs, and my fragile sanity hinges entirely on that vow.
"I’min the sub-basement,"Danielreports.Staticbites into the signal as the feed drops deeper underground. "Smellslike accelerant.They’rescrubbing the site."
"Theyknow we’re here,"Shaneadds over the radio, completely unbothered. "Austin, bring the truck around to the south exit.We’regoing to need a fast exfil."
"Copythat,"Austinconfirms through the cab's speaker.
Bloodpounds violently against my ribs. "Daniel,I’mpicking up a stationary heat signature in roomB-4.Small.Curledtightly into a corner."
"Isee it,"Danielreplies.Thetension in his voice is a crushing pressure pushing through the earpiece. "Approachingnow."
Mylungs lock up entirely.Thescreen feed tracksDanieladvancing down a narrow hallway lined with pipes.Hisboots halt in front of a heavy iron door.
"It’srigged," he mutters. "Tripwireon the handle.Crude, but effective."
"Canyou bypass?"Loganquestions.
"Yeah.Holdtight."
Hisgloved hands fill the camera feed, moving with absolute accuracy.Atactical knife flashes in the low light, slicing straight through the thin wire before shoving the heavy door wide.
Thelens swings into the interior of a damp concrete box.Alone figure sits tied to a metal chair in the far corner, hooded and slumped forward.
"Kevin,"Ibreathe, vision blurring completely. "Daniel, is that him?"
Danielstalks forward, his rifle scanning the dark.Findingthe corners clear, he holsters his weapon and drops to one knee beside the chair, ripping the canvas hood away.
Purplebruising paints the face on the screen, one eye swollen completely shut.ButIrecognize the jawline instantly.It’smy baby brother.
"Targetacquired,"Danielannounces, the harsh edge dropping from his tone. "He’salive.Pulseis steady.Hey, kid.Wakeup."
Aharsh, ugly sob claws up my throat, makingJoeyjump in the driver's seat. "Gethim out,Daniel.Please, just bring him back."
"I’vegot him, baby.I’vegot him."Danielbrings the blade down to slice through the thick zip ties bindingKevin’swrists.
Ablinding new heat signature erupts onto the edge of my radar, dropping rapidly from the adjacent ventilation shaft.
"Daniel!Behindyou!Vent!"Iscream.
Thecamera whips around.Nogrunt—theCostalieutenant himself drops from the ceiling, the jagged scar from the intel files pale against his sneering face.Ablinking detonator rests securely in his palm.
"Gun!"Danielroars.Theview spins violently as he lunges across the distance, throwing his massive body directly overKevinto shield the boy completely.
Thedigital feed goes blindingly white.Adeafening boom blows out the microphone, leaving behind nothing but the high-pitched shriek of feedback.
"Daniel!"Iscream, digging both hands into the plastic casing of the monitor as ifIcan physically rip him out of the pixelated chaos. "Daniel!Logan!"
Hissingsnow fills the displays.